Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance has flown its first missions after logging on with the despatch centre for operational deployment on Wednesday.
A busy 48 hours saw the helicopter sent to incidents in Carnoustie, Crail and Cairndow in Argyll.
Based at Perth Airport, SCAA operates 10 hours a day, seven days a week, tasked through the 999 emergency service.
Paramedics were first flown to a crash near Cairndow shortly after 3pm on Thursday and a casualty was taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment.
On Friday Helimed 76 was sent to Carnoustie, but later recalled when the incident was downgraded.
Shortly after returning to Perth, the helicopter was back in the air and flying to Crail. It is understood a 43-year-old man collapsed after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest and was airlifted to hospital.
SCAA chief executive Gavin Davie said: “At the time of the Cairndow incident, the other two state-sponsored helicopters were busy. What we did was turn a two-and-a-half-hour journey to hospital into a 15-minute airlift.
“It has certainly been a busy couple of days. We’re happy in a number of ways. The launch went smoothly. All of our pre-planning is bearing fruit. We are operating correctly, confidently and very professionally.”
Meanwhile, a retired paramedic who flew on the original Scottish Air Ambulance helicopter trial in Dundee in the late eighties visited SCAA on Friday.
Ian Golding, who has agreed to become an ambassador for the charity, met the team and took a look at the new air ambulance.
He said: “I hope to use my previous experience and skills gained while manning the air ambulance in Dundee for five years. I will be promoting the service and reinforcing the importance and the value of it.”